The stranger spoke softly, but clearly, and he obviously did not have a local accent:
"Lady, may I ask whether this person is staying at your inn?"
He first took out a banknote, then produced a photograph and showed it to Mrs. Sangmei. Because of the angle, Shade could not see what was in the photograph.
Shade rested an arm on the counter and sat on a round stool in front of it, looking at Luvia. As she raised an eyebrow, he signaled for her not to speak. Then, continuing their previous topic, he complained to Luvia that technical worker Mary had not told the truth.
Where did this High-Ring Arcanist come from? Has The Church already traced things here? Should I leave?
The other party was at least Twelfth Ring, and most likely a Thirteenth Ring Warlock.
"Thirteenth Ring?"
Shade was even more surprised, but his expression did not change:
"Among the Thirteenth Rings currently in Tobesk's Orthodox Churches are the Sun Church's 'Sunlight Greatsword' and the Creation Church's 'Iron Right Hand,' but this person is clearly neither of them. The Church would not casually deploy a Thirteenth Ring Warlock across dioceses. And even if they had clues about Daknis, according to the operational protocols for Church Ring Arcanists that I learned from Iluna, they would not send a Thirteenth Ring Warlock out directly. Therefore, this stranger is not a Thirteenth Ring from an Orthodox Church."
As he considered this inwardly, the female innkeeper on the other side frowned as she looked at the photograph, then decisively shook her head:
"I know all the guests here very well. At least in the past three months, no one who looks like this has stayed at my inn."
Shade continued chatting with Luvia. She had probably also realized that the man